Changing the face of Heritage and Conservation in Africa: Experts Meeting to examine the new ICCROM Programme on African Cultural Heritage

From 9 to 11 January 2019, ICCROM organized an experts meeting at the Egyptian Academy of Arts in Rome to reflect on its new initiative entitled “Africa Programme 2020-2029: Changing the Face of Heritage and Conservation in Africa”. The 15 experts representing cultural and heritage institutions on the African continent, ICCROM and the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, shared their specific experiences and recommendations for innovative solutions to addressing development needs through heritage.

In the words of Webber Ndoro, ICCROM’s Director-General: “It’s time for a new programme for Africa that will combine cultural heritage conservation with youth, socio-economic wellbeing and inclusive development”.

The participants agreed on the need to support a call to action to address the challenges of poverty alleviation, transforming heritage into an asset for economic development ensuring benefits for all, and expanding partnership base, with a particular emphasis on improving the involvement of youth in the stewardship of Africa’s cultural heritage for the benefit of all generations.

This new Africa Programme is intended to be implemented from 2020 to 2029.